Bedsore prevention device in an invalid bed arrangement

• US 4,654,903 A
• Filed: 11/13/1985
• Issued: 04/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (State of Connecticut)
• Original Assignee: Nova Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Vaiana, Joseph C., Chubb, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US06/797,701
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 5/61, 5/62, 5/108, 5/109, 5/431, 5/465, 5/509, 5/11, 5/63-66
• US Class Current: 5/607
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/006 convertible to stretchers or beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1002 with toilet facilities room closets, night chairs A47K11/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0005 Means for bathing bedridden persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1003 mounted on or in combination with a bath-tub
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1032 Endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1034 Rollers, rails or other means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels

Abstract

An arrangement for the prevention of bedsores on invalids confined to bed, in which the bed can be tilted toward either side for shifting the weight distribution of a patient to promote circulation of the blood and thereby prevent the development of bedsores. A reversible motor drives a ball nut through a worm screw so that motion of the ball nut in one direction raises one side of the bed frame, and motion in an opposite direction raises the opposite side of the bed frame.

Claims

1. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and including a mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising reversible motor drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

first roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

second roller means connected to said ball nut and supporting lever arm members actuated by said ball nut so that motion of said ball nut in one direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising one side of said bed frame and motion of said ball nut in an opposite direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising an opposite side of said bed frame.

2. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 1, including support members attached to said lever arm members and having vertical projections engaging said bed frame for providing lateral support to said bed frame on both sides of the bed.

3. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 2, including attached members constraining and preventing lateral motion of the bed legs relative to said tilt means.

4. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 1, including support members with vertical projections engaging said bed frame on one side of said bed frame for providing lateral support to said frame;

roller means on the other side of said bed frame to permit lateral motion between said bed frame and support thereof.

5. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

first roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

second roller means connected to said ball nut and supporting lever arm members actuated by said ball nut so that motion of said ball nut in one direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising one side of said bed frame and motion of said ball nut in an opposite direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising an opposite side of said bed frame.

6. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

first roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

second roller means connected to said ball nut and supporting lever arm members actuated by said ball nut so that motion of said ball nut in one direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising one side of said bed frame and motion of said ball nut in an opposite direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising an opposite side of said bed frame;

support members attached to said lever arm members and having vertical projections engaging said bed frame for providing lateral support to said bed frame on both sides of the bed.

7. A bedsore preventing arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

first roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

second roller means connected to said ball nut and supporting lever arm members actuated by said ball nut so that motion of said ball nut in one direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising one side of said bed frame and motion of said ball nut in an opposite direction moves said supporting lever arm members for raising an opposite side of said bed frame;

support members attached to said lever arm members and having projections engaging one side of said bed frame for providing lateral support to said frame;

roller means on the opposite side of said bed frame to permit lateral motion between said bed frame and support thereof.

8. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and including a mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means with support frame for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilt means comprising motor drive means coupled so as to produce a reciprocating and adjustable linear motion to a member;

means for guiding and restraining said member;

lift roller means connected to said member;

said lift roller means supporting a pair of right lever arm members having right ends supporting the right side of said bed frame and left ends pivoted below the left side of the bed frame from a tilt means support frame resting on a floor;

said lift roller means also supporting a pair of left lever arm members oppositely disposed from said right lever arm members;

said right and left pairs of lever arm members being so inclined that leftward motion of said lift roller means raises the right lever arm members and thereby the right side of the bed frame, rightward motion of said lift roller means raising the left lever arm members and thereby the left side of the bed frame.

9. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including support members attached to said lever arm members and having vertical projections about said bed frame for providing lateral support to said bed frame on both sides of the bed;

and attached members constraining and preventing lateral motion of the bed legs relative to said tilt means.

10. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including said support members with vertical projections engaging said bed frame on one side of said bed frame for providing lateral support to said frame;

and roller means on the other side of said bed frame to permit lateral motion between said bed frame and support thereof.

11. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said patient support means comprises side rails attached to said bed frame;

removable bolsters extending along a side and resting on the mattress; and

attachment means to secure said bolsters to the bed.

12. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said patient support means comprises a mattress with slots, said mattress being bendable for elevating side edges of the mattress;

and removable members for supporting the elevated mattress edges.

13. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said tilt means comprises a hand crank drive coupled so as to produce a reciprocating and adjustable linear motion.

14. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including support members attached to said lever arm members and having vertical projections about said bed frame for providing lateral support to said bed frame on both sides of the bed.

15. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including support members attached to said lever arm members and having projections engaging one side of said bed frame for providing lateral support to said frame;

and roller means on the opposite side of said bed frame to permit lateral motion between said bed frame and support thereof.

16. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including transport means with rollers at opposite ends of the bed;

a flexible sheet extending over said mattress between said rollers;

roller drive means for winding said sheet from a roller on the opposite bed end for pulling said sheet across the mattress surface so as to transport a person lying on the sheet to and beyond the end of the bed;

said rollers being positioned entirely below the top surface of the mattress for providing smooth passage of a person off the bed and onto a support placed end to end with the bed.

17. A bedsore prevention arrangement as defined in claim 8, including transport means with rollers at opposite side of the bed;

a flexible sheet extending over said mattress between said rollers;

roller drive means for winding said sheet up on one roller on one bed side and unwinding said sheet from a roller on the opposite bed side for pulling said sheet across the mattress surface so as to transport a person lying on the sheet to and beyond the side of the bed, said rollers being positioned entirely below the top surface of the mattress for providing smooth passage of a person off the bed and onto a support placed side to side with the bed.

18. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and including a mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means with support frame for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising reversible motor drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

guidance roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

lift roller means connected to said ball nut;

said lift roller means supporting a pair of right lever arm members having right ends supporting the right side of said bed frame and left ends pivoted below the left side of the bed frame from said tilt means support frame resting on a floor;

said lift roller means also supporting a pair of left lever arm members oppositely disposed from said right lever arm members;

said right and left pairs of lever arm members being so inclined that leftward motion of said lift rollers means raises the right lever arm members and thereby the right side of the bed frame, rightward motion of said lift roller means raising the left lever arm members and thereby the left side of the bed frame.

19. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means with support frame for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

first roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

guidance roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

lift roller means connected to said ball nut;

said lift roller means supporting a pair of right lever arm members having right ends supporting the right side of said bed frame and left ends pivoted below the left side of the bed frame from said tilt means support frame resting on a floor;

said lift roller means also supporting a pair of left lever arm members oppositely disposed from said right lever arm members;

said right and left pairs of lever arm members being so inclined that leftward motion of said lift rollers means raises the right lever arm members and thereby the right side of the bed frame, rightward motion of said lift roller means raising the left lever arm members and thereby the left side of the bed frame.

20. A bedsore prevention arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means with support frame for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

guidance roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

lift roller means connected to said ball nut;

said lift roller means supporting a pair of right lever arm members having right ends supporting the right side of said bed frame and left ends pivoted below the left side of the bed frame from said tilt means support frame resting on a floor;

said lift roller means also supporting a pair of left lever arm members oppositely disposed from said right lever arm members;

said right and left pairs of lever arm members being so inclined that leftward motion of said lift roller means raises the right lever arm members and thereby the right side of the bed frame, rightward motion of said lift roller means raising the left lever arm members and thereby the left side of the bed frame; and

support members attached to said lever arm members and having vertical projections about said bed frame for providing lateral support to said bed frame on both sides of the bed.

21. A bedsore preventing arrangement comprising a bed with two opposite sides and mattress, a bed frame and legs;

tilt means with support frame for tilting the bed toward either one of said two sides;

patient support means for supporting a reclining patient when the bed is tilted;

said tilting means comprising hand crank drive means coupled to a worm screw;

a ball nut driven by said worm screw;

guidance roller means and track means for guiding and restraining said ball nut;

lift roller means connected to said ball nut;

said lift roller means supporting a pair of right lever arm members having right ends supporting the right side of said bed frame and left ends pivoted below the left side of the bed frame from said tilt means support frame resting on a floor;

said lift roller means also supporting a pair of left lever arm members oppositely disposed from said right lever arm members;

said right and left pairs of lever arm members being so inclined that leftward motion of said lift rollers means raises the right lever arm members and thereby the right side of the bed frame, rightward motion of said lift roller means raising the left lever arm members and thereby the left side of the bed frame;

support members attached to said lever arm members and having projections engaging one side of said bed frame for providing lateral support to said frame; and

roller means on the opposite side of said bed frame to permit lateral motion between said bed frame and support thereof.